Apparatus for collecting, digging, and transporting loose materials



C. DOMENIGHETTI Apn] 1965 APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING, DIGGING, AND 3178839TRANSPORTING LOOSE MATERIALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23, 1962ATTOE/VE? pri 20; 1965 AAAAAAAAA DOME-NGHETT' 3,118 839 OR COLLECTING.DIGGING, AND TRANSPORTING LOOSE MATERIALS Filed April 23, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 2 M/VE/VTOP C03 TANTf pOME/V/GHETT/ 314 7W MM ATTORNEYUnited States Patent 3,178,839 APPARATUS FOR COLLECTENG, DHGGING, ANDTRANSPORTING LOOSE MATERIIALS Costante Domenighetfi, Piazzale Giulioesare 20, Milan, Italy Filed Apr. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 189,476 Claimspriority, application Italy, May 3, 1961, 12,775, Patent 647,557 3Claims. (Cl. 37-116) The present invention relates to an apparatusadapted to collect, dig and transport loose materials as for instance,sand, gravel, coal and the like, to bring them in proximity to theutilization or working place. This apparatus comprises a beam pivoted atone end and mounting adajacent thereto a winch with two drums having arope wound thereon in opposite directions, a transmission pulley mountedat the other end, a carriage-supported return rope carrying a scraperbucket sliding between the drums and the pulley, and an automatichoisting system for the scraper bucket including a carriage stop deviceand a carriage-mounted pulley for the return rope connected to thescraper bucket to effect the hoisting and the discharge thereof.

The beam carries adjacent its pivot a winch having a double drum unitadapted to receive at least two ropes wound thereon, one on each drumbut in opposite directions so that one rope winds up while the other isun- Winding.

The free ends of the two ropes may be connected to each other on atransmission pulley placed on the other end of the shaft. It is alsopossible to use a single rope which from one of the drums carried by thewinch mounted at one shaft end, passes over the pulley mounted at theother shaft end and is then connected to the digging member and thenextends up to the other drum upon which it winds up in a directionopposite to the one of the rope on the first drum. By means of thisdevice or arrangement, the upper rope slackens and the lower oneshortens whereby the total operating length of the same stays unvariedand the digging member is pulled towards the winch.

By reversing the rotation of the motor driving the winch, reversal ofthe movement of the two ropes is effected i.e., the pulling ropeslackens and vice versa the slack one starts pulling. If one of theseropes is connected to a scraper bucket, it will be subjected to analternating movement between a point located substantially centrally ofthe beam and the pulley mounted on the free end of the beam.

A main object of the present invention is to provide, in a givenlocation of the bucket travel, for the discharge of said bucket i.e.,for the turning over and stopping thereof as well as for the returnmovement of said bucket by means of an automatic braking device forcontrol of carriage and the elimination of shock or the like as well asto provide for a hoisting or lifting dis lacement of said bucket withrespect to its digging position thereby avoiding that said bucket comesinto contact with already discharged material, thus eliminating anydanger of wear on the bucket and back dragging of material which hasalready been carried forward.

The foregoing objects are achieved by means of an apparatus as shown byway of example only in the accompanying drawings wherein:

' FIG. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal view of the beam in the regionwhere discharge of the scraper bucket is effected;

FIG. 1' is a similar view of a modification thereof;

FIG. 1 shows a further modification wherein the angle of a beam portionis adjustable;

3,178,839 Patented Apr. 20, 1965 FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing the association of the device ofthe invention with a weighing batching plant; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be seen that the apparatus ofthe invention may comprise a traction rope 1 fixed at 2 to the scraperbucket 2, a return rope 3 attached at 3" to the back portion of saidbucket, a stop disc 4 fixed to rope 3, a transmission pulley 5 rotatablymounted on an arm 9 pivoted at 17 to a carriage d slidable on a rail orguide member 7' in the shape of an inverted T and forming a part of atriangular frame beam 7. A brake element 8 is mounted for verticalswinging movement on and about a horizontal pivot 8a and is swung by thearm 9 by means of a pawl 16. An arm 11 is also fixed to the carriage 6and has pivotally mounted thereon a lever 12 provided with a hookprojection 13 which, at the end of the forward stroke, engages a hookprojection 14 fixed to the frame beam 7. The carriage 6 having itswheels 6' sliding on the side portions of the rail member 7", is drivenduring the digging stroke in a position which is just above the scraperbucket 2. This is eifected by means of a rope 15 connected to thetraction rope 1. During the digging and filling stroke of the bucket 2,the ropes 1 and 15 are pulled while the rope 3 slackens. At the end ofthe forward or digging stroke, the hook projection 13 engages the hook14 (through tension in the spring 1X; connecting arm 11 and lever 12), aconventional stop device for the electric winch motor (i.e. an endstroke contact) which is not shown in the drawing, reverses the rotationof the motor so that the rope 3 is now subjected to tension, and theropes 1 and 15 are slackened and move in a direction opposite to the onein the preceeding digging stroke.

Since the hook projection 13 is still engaged with the stationary hookprojection 14, before causing the return stroke of the carriage 6, therope 3 hoists the scraper bucket 2 thereby turning it over until thebottom 2 of the same or the disc 4 comes into contact with the end 12'of the lever 12. Through this contact, disengagement of the movable hookprojection 13 from the stationary hook projection 14 is eiiected topermit the return stroke of the carriage 6 by rope 3. Were it not forthe presence of the brake 8, it could happen that the tension of therope 3 would cause a sudden jerk or shock to the whole scraper unit. Theprovision of a brake element 8 ensures a smooth return movement andtherefore a more reliable and stable operation. This braking action isalso effective in keeping the scraper bucket in an elevated dischargeposition so that said bucket does not come into contact with thematerial lying below which has been previously dug and transported. Thisbraking action is furthermore automatic as the arm 9, which carries thepulley 5 and is pivotally mounted at 17, is pulled backwards by thetension in the rope 3 to cause the braking action.

FIG. 1 shows a modification of the turning over or tilting and hoistingmechanism for the scraper bucket 2. In FIGURES l, 2 and 3, the carriage6 is shown with its wheels 6' sliding each on one side portion of therail or guide element 7' fixed to the frame beam 7. In the modificationof FIGURE 1, a simpler arrangement than the hook means 1344 is used forstopping the carriage 6 in its turned over position. The rail element '7is bent downwards at its end to form an elbow portion 7" across whichthe wheels 6 stop at the end of the stroke, as shown. The carriage 6stops and at the same time the winch 23 also stops and reverses itsrotation. As a consequence thereof, the ropes 1 and 15 slacken while therope 3 starts pulling. However, since the scraper bucket 2 is filledwith material and the carriage 6 is blocked by the elbow portion 7" ofthe rail element 7', the rope 3 does not start the carriage back butinitially hoists the back side of the bucket bottom thus causing thedischarge of the scraper bucket. The scraper bucket 2 keeps going up ina vertical direction until it strikes against the pulley 5. This bump,together with the component of the forces acting on the carriage 6,causes the disengagement of the wheels 6" from the elbow portion 7",thus causing the descent along the rail portion 7 of the carriage and ofthe scraper bucket located below. The amplitude of the angle 7" of therail 7' having the form of an upside-down T and serving to block thecarriage 6 is conveniently made adjustable, as shown in FIG. 1", bysplitting the beam at the edge, by removing part thereof and byinserting a hinge 70 at its inside so as to permit the return of saidbeam to the original rectilinear position- Two extensions 71 and 72respectively fixed to two parts 7 and 7" and provided with openings 73for the securing together of said extensions by means of a pin 74,permit the adjustment of said angle 7" in accordance with the. tractionexerted by the bucket 2.

However, the two extensions 71 and 72 may also be omitted and a stop orabutment limiting the maximum amplitude of the angle may be inserted inthe inner side of said angle or in the hinge 70 while the movement up- IWards is free. In this case, the disc 4 stopping the bucket is providedwith a rod 75 which at the end of its upper stroke pushes the end railportion 7" upwards and, by having it return in its rectilinear position,enables the movement of the carriage 6 again.

Ditferent mechanical, electrical or pneumatic means may be utilized inthe specified system as long as the tilting or turning over of thescraper bucket and the return stroke thereof in upside-down orapproximately upsidedown position is effected withoutcontacting thematerial lying below. 7

The traction system acting on the several ropes, may be constituted by asingle winch having two drums carrying the ropes wound thereon inopposite directions or may be made with two winches each having a drum,or with two winches one having a drum and the other having two drums. Ina possible arrangement three winches'may be provided, each with a drumadapted to receive one of the ropes 1, 3, 15 each separately woundthereon.

The winch drums may either be motor driven or they may be of the loosereversal type, the rope returning to its original position without thedrum shaft having to be rotated. This may be effected by means of arackwork system or an electromagnetic clutch mechanism or the like.

. These drums may be braked directly or by the motor,

in this last case the brake 8 may be replaced by the brake acting on thedrum having the rope 15 wound there- When the drum of the rope 15includes a stop or brake element acting only in the locationcorresponding to the engagement position of the hook projection 13 withthe projection 14, it will be noted that the whole lever 12 and theprojections 13 and 14 may be replaced by a mechani- -cal or electricalcontrol mechanism adapted to operate the brake or thestop element of thedrum pulling on the rope 15.

These winches and their related drums with their transmission pulleysmay be located in any suitable position on the frame beam or in anyother position away therefrom, whereby the normal transmissionarrangements may be provided through suitable pulleys.

The ropes may obviously be partly or completely replaced by chains,jointed rods or any other equivalent means.

The carriage 6 may slide either on a rail portion or along a supportcable in cooperative relation with conventional slide means.

In a further embodiment, a winch may be provided in the fore partto pullon the rope in the digging direction while another winch is located atthe opposite side of the beam or on the ground to provide for the returnmovement of the rope. This last arrangement is advantageously appliedwhen the carriage slides on a cable instead of on the frame shaft.

Other equipment for completing the apparatus of the invention maycomprise, for instance, a manually operated or a motor driven winch 18(FIG. 4). for the lifting and the lowering of the whole unit to have thescraper bucket follow the outline of the material to be dug.

, A further device may be provided for rotating the whole system fromthe position 19 to the position 20 (FIG. 5),

said device being mechanically, electrically or pneumatically driven andpossibly remote controlled.

The simplest construction is as shown in FIG. 4 and comprises a beamhaving a triangular frame 7 pivoted at 21 and adapted to rotate in ahorizontal as well as in a vertical direction. The tension rope 22 isprovided to support the beam 7 and to change the. inclination therefore;A winch 23 has two drums fixed on the same shaft and adapted to receivethe two ropes 1 and 3 wound thereon in opposite directions, each on itsdrum. The rope 3, 3 starting from its drum reaches the other end of theframe beam, passes on the transmission pulley 24 and winds on the pulley5 connected to the bottom of the grab bucket 2. The other drum of thewinch is adapted to receive the rope 1 wound thereon, said rope beingconnected to the fore part 2" ofthe grab bucket 2. This rope is alsoconnected to the rope 15, theother'end of which of an ararngement ofhooks disposed in several positions or with multiple windings.

The apparatus of the invention operates as follows; The winch 23 is setinto operation when the scraper bucket is located in its lowest positionand pulls on rope I and therefore also on rope 15 which is connectedthereto. As a consequence thereof, the scraper bucket is dragged on thematerial thereby digging out portions thereof. At the same time thecarriage 6 moves with and is kept above the grab bucket 2 by means ofthe rope 15. When the scraper bucket has reached its discharge position,the hook projection 13 engages the projection 14and almost at this samemoment the rotation of the winch drums is automatically reversed. Theropes 1 and 15 slacken' winch 23'automatically reverses its direction ofrotation, the rope 3 slackens and the scraper bucket 2 is dropped tocome into contact with the material. The ropes 1 and 15 are subjectedagainto tension and the scraper bucket starts the digging stroke therebyrestarting the cycle.

At the moment in which the scraper bucket is in lifted position and isabout to descend, the beam frame 7 by its pivot shaft 21 may be easilyrotated in horizontal directron thereby passing over any kind ofobstacles, separatmg or partition walls 25, or the like (FIG. 5 ).f

What is claimed is:

1. A cable operated dragline scraper comprising a beam, a carriagemounted for movement along the beam, a scraper, first cable means forpulling the carriage forwardly along the beam, second cable means forraising and lowering the scraper relative to the carriage, said firstcable means including a forward cable portion and a pair of rear cableportions interconnected with and extending rearwardly of said forwardcable portion, one of said rear cable portions being connected at itsrear end to the carriage and the other of said rear cable portions beingconnected at its rear end to the scraper.

2. A cable operated dragline scraper comprising a beam, a carriagemounted for movement along the beam, a scraper, first cable means forpulling the carriage forwardly along the beam, second cable means forraising and lowering the scraper relative to the carriage, and means forreleasably retaining the carriage in a forward position against rearwardmovement along the beam, said beam having track means thereon on whichsaid carriage rides, said retaining means comprising a pocket in thetrack means in which a portion of the carriage rests by gravity.

3. A cable operated dragline scraper comprising a beam, a carriagemounted for movement along the beam, a scraper, first cable means forpulling the carriage forwardly along the beam, second cable means forraising and lowering the scraper relative to the carriage and forpulling the carriage rearwardly along the beam, pulley means over whichsaid second cable means is trained,

means mounting the pulley means on the carriage for rearward swingingmovement relative to the carriage when the second cable means istensioned to pull the carriage rearwardly, and one-way brake means onsaid carriage engageable with the beam to prevent free forward movementof the carriage but to retard rearward movement of the carriage alongthe beam thereby to assure that the scraper will be in a raised positionrelative to the carriage upon rearward movement of the carriage alongthe beam, said means which mounts the pulley means on the carriage, whenrearwardly swung, exerting pressure on the brake means to engage thebrake means with the beam.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 447,458 3/91Butler 37116 910,038 1/09 Andrews 21410 1,086,304 2/14 Negley 214611,103,476 7/14 Bishop 214--134 1,235,472 7/17 Hendrickson 212751,343,434 6/20 Cook 212-77 1,440,406 1/23 Nolan 212--79 HUGO O. SCHULZ,Primary Examiner.

MORRIS TEMIN, Examiner.

